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Monthly Archives: April 2011
Cyclone Reveals Unbury Island’s 130-Year-Old Shipwreck
As the sands of Fire Island are swallowing Le Papillon, Cyclone Yasi has uncovered a mysterious shipwreck on an island off the Queensland coast. Cyclone Winds Unbury Island’s 130-Year-Old Shipwreck The huge cyclone’s intense winds blew away sand on one … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Cyclone Yasi, Queensland, shipwreck
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Storytelling at the Bivalve Shipping Sheds
If Detroit was and is the “motor city,” then perhaps Bivalve, New Jersey was the Oyster Capital of the World. By the late 1880s, 90 railcars full of oysters were shipped from Bivalve every week. Oysters were once the largest … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea
Tagged A.J. Meerwald, Bayshore Discovery Project, Bivalve, New Jersey, oyster
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Update: Duck Boats Return to the Delaware
The Ducks have returned to the Delaware River. Not mallards, but duck boats. Last July a tug pushing a barge ran down a disabled “Duck boat” DUKW 34 at anchor in the Delaware River off Philadelphia. Two of the 35 … Continue reading
Safety – the Forest or the Trees on the Deepwater Horizon?
The Coast Guard released a report yesterday that was highly critical of Transocean, the owner of the Deepwater Horizon drill rig, which exploded and sank last year. Transocean contributed to Gulf disaster, Coast Guard report says Flaws in Transocean Ltd.’s … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Coast Guard, Deepwater Horizon drill rig, Transocean
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Whisky Bottles Still Washing Up From the Wreck of the Sailing Ship Stuart – 110 years ago
It is not champagne, but whiskey bottles which are still appearing from the sands where the sailing ship Stuart wrecked 110 years ago on Easter Sunday off the Llyn peninsula of Northern Wales. Whisky bottles still being washed up on … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Easter, Llyn peninsula, Northern Wales, Sailing ship, Stuart, whisky
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Update: World’s Oldest Champagne Going on the Block in June
In July of last year we posted about the discovery of 30 bottles of champagne thought to pre-date the French Revolution in a wreck on the Baltic seabed. In November, wine experts tasted the “world’s oldest champagne” which was judged to be … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Aaland, Juglar, Veuve-Clicquot, World's Oldest Champagne
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Record Number of Right Whales off Cape Cod
I recall many years ago how excited the guide was on a whale watching trip out of Provincetown when we sighted a mother right whale and her calf not long after leaving the dock. I can only imagine how researchers … Continue reading
Khubilai Khan’s Lost Fleet
Jim Luce recently wrote an article in the Huffington Post titled, Khubilai Khan’s Lost Fleet Found in Japan. The title makes it sound like a new discovery. Not so much. The site of the “lost fleet” was discovered … Continue reading
Posted in History, Lore of the Sea, Seastories
Tagged Jim Delgado, Khubilai Khan's Lost Fleet, maritime archaeologist
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Douglas Faulkner and the MV Derbyshire
Douglas Faulkner, who died recently, had a varied and highly accomplished career as a naval and marine architect. He was involved in the design and testing of the first British nuclear submarine, HMS Dreadnought. He was later an assistant professor at the Royal Naval College, … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Douglas Faulkner, H.M.S. Dreadnought, MV Derbyshire
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BP Oil Spill – One Year Later, Some Good News and Lots of Bad
There appears to be both good and bad news exactly one year after the explosion and fire that sank the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon, killing eleven, and triggering the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum … Continue reading
Hijacked MV Asphalt Venture – Ransom Paid, Hostages Kept
The MV Asphalt Venture was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 28, 2010. After negotiating and being paid a multi-million dollar ransom, the pirates released the ship and part of the crew yesterday, but continued to hold seven Indian seafarers hostage, reportedly in retaliation … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged Indian Navy, Indian seafarers, MV Asphalt Venture, Somali pirates
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Fishtown Shadfest
Until fairly recently, every springtime, American shad made their annual runs up the Delaware, Hudson, Connecticut and other rivers of the East and Northeast to spawn. The shad fishery in the Hudson lasted until the 1970s when their numbers dropped precipitously. After dropping off … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged 3rd Annual Fishtown Shad Fest, Delaware River, Philadelphia
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Brad Van Liew Arriving Charleston Today, Winning Fourth Leg of Velux Five Oceans
Brad Van Liew sailing Le Pingouin is expected to cross the finish line in Charleston, SC, his adopted home town, some time today, continuing to dominate the Velux Five Oceans singlehanded around the world race. Thus far, he has won all four legs of the around the world race thus far. … Continue reading
Extreme Sailing – A Video for a Monday Morning
Day 3 of the Extreme Sailing Series in Qingdao, China provided more than a few thrills and spills among the eleven “eXtreme 40″ catamarans engaged in what has been described as “close combat racing.” DAY 3: EXTREME! A major collision, … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Lore of the Sea
Tagged China, eXtreme 40 catamarans, Extreme Sailing Series, Qingdao
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Update: Le Papillon and the Sands of Fire Island
Not quite three weeks ago the 50′ steel pinky schooner Le Papillon came ashore on Fire Island, a barrier island off Long Island, northeast of the entrance to New York harbor. Will van Dorp at the Tugster blog has taken some amazing … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged 50' steel pinky schooner, Fire Island, Gluckauf, Le Papillon
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